Synthesis and evaluation of antitumour activities of novel fused tri- and tetracyclic uracil derivatives

Simple one-pot syntheses of indenopyrrolopyrimidines and indolopyrrolopyrimidines were achieved via the cyclocondensation of 6-aminouracils and, respectively, ninhydrin and isatin in the presence of catalytic amounts of glacial acetic acid. Similarly, 5,6-diaminouracil derivatives were used as starting materials for the synthesis of indenopteridines and indolopteridines via their reaction with ninhydrin and isatin, respectively. The synthesised compounds were evaluated for antitumour activity against a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2), some showing antitumour activity comparable with 5-fluorouracil and imatinib.